British Pressure Group Politics: The National Council for Civil Liberties

Abstract

This paper seeks to draw attention to a need to account for forms of pressure group activity which have become increasingly prominent in British politics. The focus is on groups that articulate demands of the disadvantaged or aggrieved in British society. This requires a pressure group framework, as well as the approaches used in studies of community action and political participation; it is argued that the literature on British pressure groups is inadequate in this respect. A typology is proposed to promote visibility in terms of relations with government. Groups can be seen to inhabit three worlds rather than one. The National Council for Civil Liberties is representative of third world pressure groups. It shares many characteristics and confronts similar problems, while possessing features which are peculiar to a group dedicated to the preservation and extension of civil liberties. The National Council for Civil Liberties has achieved effectiveness without acceptance.